May 18, 2007

Ask the Animal Behaviorist

Top 10 nutritional tips for overweight pets Courtesy of the

Humane Society Silicon Valley
Special to the Times

Is your cat or dog looking a bit plump? Obesity is an extremely common problem in pets and, as with humans, can be detrimental to their health.

“We see many overweight dogs and cats come into our shelter,” said Dr. Maureen Lee-Dutra, a staff veterinarian at Humane Society Silicon Valley. “We’ve seen beagles ready to burst and fat cats that weight as much as 30 pounds.”

Dr. Lee-Dutra noted that an overweight pet has many added stresses upon his body and is at an increased risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint pain. She added that the majority of obesity cases are related to simple overfeeding coupled with lack of exercise.

To determine if your cat is too fat or if your dog is a hog, you should be able to feel the backbone and palpate the ribs in an animal of healthy weight. If you cannot feel your pet’s ribs without pressing, there is too much fat. Also, you should see a noticeable "waist" between the back of the rib cage and the hips when looking at your pet from above.

If you pet is overweight, Dr. Lee-Dutra recommends consulting your pet’s vet before starting on a weight loss program, which should include these major areas:

Correct Diet
Overweight animals consume more calories than they require. Work with your veterinarian to determine your pet’s caloric requirements, select a suitable food and calculate how much to feed. The diet should contain a normal level of a moderately fermentable fiber and the type of fat that prevents the skin and coat from deteriorating during weight loss. Diets that dilute calories with high fiber lead to increased stool volumes, frequent urges to defecate and variable decreases in nutrient digestibility.

Exercise
Increasing physical activity can be a valuable contributor to both weight loss and maintenance. Regular exercise burns more calories, reduces appetite, changes body composition and will increase your pet’s resting metabolic rate.

Owner Behavior Modification
A successful weight management program requires permanent changes in the behaviors that have allowed the pet to become overweight. Perhaps you are giving your pet too many treats, for example, or not giving him enough opportunities to exercise. “People are more sedentary now, so it’s no surprise that their dogs or cats are more sedentary. Also, you need to remember about portion control. How many treats are you giving them? Let’s face it, dogs basically inhale these treats, so it’s OK with them if you give them an eighth of a cookie instead of the whole thing,” Dr. Lee-Dutra said.

Other helpful tips for keeping your pet in shape:

- Remove the pet from the room when the family eats.
- Feed your pet several small meals throughout the day.
- Feed all meals and treats in the pet's bowl only.
- Reduce snacks or treats.
- Provide non-food related attention.

Lastly, Dr. Lee-Dutra said it’s important to remember that all the low cal food in the world won’t matter if you don’t control your pet’s portion. “Portion control is key,” she said.

A portion of this article is courtesy of the ASPCA.